I just bought a Spectrum 4-8-4 DCC Santa Fe on eBay NIB from thefavoritespot for $83. Their BuyItNow price was $95. modeltrainstuff's price on sale is $110, so I think I did okay, considering the furious bidding each time one comes up for auction.
If anyone on the forum has one & some comments, I'd be interested.
I thought that I'd get just one steamer. ::) Watching videos on UTube of the Milwaukee Road 261 recently running through Wisconsin got to me, though. Maybe I can change its name to Milwaukee Road. I saw that BLI has a Great Northern version, but it costs $400!
I find myself, like YampaBob, averaging 1 new locomotive a month, but he's been doing it for a lot more months. :o
The 261 doesn't look like any Bachmann 4-8-4, other than the wheel arrangement.
Gene
I am glad you just bought a Spectrum 4-8-4 DCC Santa Fe on eBay . The only thing is that Bachmann does not make a spectrum Santa Fe 4-8-4.
Then, I guess it is not a Spectrum! I should change the title of this thread.
The 4-8-4 is a very nice locomotive, and you got it at a good price.
I travel to Denver once a month to see an eye specialist, I can't help it if Caboose Hobbies just happens to be a few blocks from the clinic. My steam roster is pretty well filled, but I do have some SD70 Macs on pre-order.
Lots of new locomotives coming out this year, hard to decide which ones NOT to get. Don't forget my "four" policy. :D
Thanks, Bob! I noticed that one bidder paid more for Bachmann's 2-10-2 DM&IR than MB Klein charges on sale, so I gave up on that auction.
Try not to buy more than your usual one a month. :D I might restrain myself from buying too many locos by mentioning my intended purchase on the forum & reading a discouraging word. ???
Then, I can't always get exactly the locomotive I want (no Bachmann Milwaukee Road or Great Northern 4-8-4-s) or I can but can't afford it (BLI DCC & sound GN 4-8-4, BLI Twentieth Century Limited Hudson).
Bill
My Bachmann Santa Fe 4-8-4 arrived today. A bolt was loose where it holds the piston shaft to the wheel. I saw threads, so I turned it as much as I could, not having a wrench that size. :-\ Was that the thing to do?
Bob, I see what you mean about the difficulty of getting all of those steamer wheels on the rails! Also, the front coupler catches on the turnout's rails.
In a plastic bag are two tiny silver objects shaped like the backs of captain's chairs. I can't identify them in the parts diagram. Can anyone tell me where they go?
Is that a coal or an oil tender?
You need to bend the trip pin up a bit. Some use needle nose pliers, I prefer the special tool by Kadee.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXNLK9&P=SM
I bought a set of small metric nutdrivers for maintenance work. A 2.5mm fits all my Connie side rod bolts. If you need small precision tools this site has it all.
https://www.micro-tools.com/store/item_detail.aspx?ItemCode=58-0430
The little pins in the bag are jumpers, in case you want to remove the decoder and run it on DC power. There should be a small note in the bag with install instructions. Keep them in a safe place.
Tools, tools, gotta have lots of tools. :D
Thanks, Bob. I think the trip pin is plastic, because the coupler is plastic. There was no note in the tiny bag with the jumpers. Now I know they aren't to be stuck onto the shell somewhere. :) With the trip pin out of the way, the locomotive still tends to de-rail at turnouts.
The trip pin should be metal, since I don't use magnets to uncouple I bend all pins up out of the way.
If there is a spring on top of the pilot truck, it might be binding a bit and keeping the truck from swiveling, or lifting the front drivers. Try removing the spring and try it. A tiny bit of extra weight on the pilot is better than a spring.
I took the pilots off my Connies, got tired of messing with them.
Run a loose truck with metal wheels back and forth through the turnout with an index finger, listen and feel for any bumps or catching on the points, frog or wing rails.
my gf told me i could spend as much as i wanted to on trains as long as i didnt shoot my a-k out the back door anymore . i ordered a 4-8-4 steamer dcc from train world yesterday .and another 50' boston maine passenger set yesterday .sapposed to be here friday . i was having pains cause i wanted one so bad ....wow am i gonna be able to make the house payment now lolol. good luck with your steamer .
WGL The Santa Fe 4-8-4 has an oil tender?
mf5117, not to shoot an AK out the back door wouldn't be difficult for me! I broke in my 4-8-4 last night. The turnouts give me fits: first the trip pin caught on a curved rail in the turnout. Then the turnout bounced the loco & caboose loose from each other. Finally, the turnout shorted out, leaving my middle & inner tracks without power! I had to take the turnout from my siding. Now, I have to buy spare right & left ones.
RAM, your question mark makes me wonder: are you saying that the Bachmann 4-8-4 Santa Fe Northern's tender is oil?
I was also following Bachmann 2-10-2 DM&IRs on eBay auctioned by thefavoritespot, an authorized dealer. Since I'm from the Mesabi Iron Range & went to college in Duluth, that's my kind of steamer. The BuyItNow price is $85. One person "won" an auction for $86. I bid up to $75, expecting someone to bid dollar by dollar until they got to $76, but I won it for $69. Then, I re-read everything I could find by Grumpy & other fans of the 2-10-2. ;D
Considering the usual street price, I think you got a fantastic deal. Did you get #508 or #511? Whichever one you got, you need to buy the other one to make a set. Are you up to "Anniversary 2015" yet? :D
Anyway, congratulations, it's a beautiful locomotive.
Are you trying to beat my "quota"? I've been "on the wagon" lately, but getting a bad case of the DTs. I'm about due for a fix. 8)
I have the 2009 Bachmann catalog on the way, I understand it is about half the size of previous editions, hope I can read it ok.
The ? is in error. The santa fe tender is oil.
Is this typical of hobbyists, buying an average of 1 locomotive a month? Since you've bought so many, Bob, they should make a large print catalog for you. :) I will blame my binge on BLI for delaying my SD40-2 from January to April. ;) I hadn't bought a loco for about 4 months.
Thanks, RAM. Since oil can't be shovelled, I don't see how it gets to the locomotive.
I too just bought a 2005 Release DCC EQUIPPED Bachmann SPECTRUM item number 82121 HO Norfolk & Western Class J 4-8-4 Locomotive Version #610. from on eBay from the same guy "The Favorite Spot" for less than $60! He is great to deal with and the prices are great too! I am lucky as his place is about 45 min from the house. So I just go and pick the items up. But that's bad too because I am too tempted to keep buying. And I do.
Anyway I am trying to figure out the required turn radius for it. We are still building the railway. Most of my railway is 18 degrees 44580 and the Main line is 22 degrees 44583. I am using the standard DCC switch 44130 and 44131 and also using the cross over DCC too.
I noticed that several bidders won for less than I paid. I have purchased several train items from him. The shipping charge does hurt, but his prices are good. I bought 2 Spectrum passenger cars at the same time & saved $5-$6 on shipping.
Let us know how it works for you. Looking at them on MBKlein's modeltrainstuff.com I saw a description stating that a minimum radius of 22" is recommended. That's what I'm using.
WGL
I am watching some auctions tonight and see a few of them end at prices cheaper than I paid. But still a great price. Thanks for the help we may only be able to run the engine on the "Main Line" only.
Robert
I have a 4-8-4 that runs fine on 18" curves but I am not a rivet counter.
Don
Robertj668, buying a 4-8-4 & a 2-10-2 in one week on eBay is enough for me for now! I also bought 3 Con Cor 72' passenger cars on eBay for my 4-8-4. I'll probably make it a combined passenger & freight train.
Grumpy, that's fine with me. My inner oval has 18" curves. Is it a Bachmann loco? Did you have any problem with the pony truck slipping off the rails? Mine does at turnouts. I will try adding a little weight to the truck.
hello everyone . i also got my bachmann 4-8-4 santa fe and passenger set in today . shipped from train world in new york monday got it today .i live near houston . i saw there add in the model railroader mag . in stock with dcc was $89.00 . once i got it on the rails and ran a few minutes . it ran rather well . but was only running 1/2 throttle . i did have a low coupler on the tender .and the passenger cars were uncoupling on the curves 22"rad .but a small problem that can be fixed . am going to buy another 70ton switcher. the black and yellow rio grande . well breaks over and got to get back to work ..... have a good night regards mark f
Quote from: WGL on March 04, 2009, 02:53:20 AM
Is this typical of hobbyists, buying an average of 1 locomotive a month? Since you've bought so many, Bob, they should make a large print catalog for you. :) I will blame my binge on BLI for delaying my SD40-2 from January to April. ;) I hadn't bought a loco for about 4 months.
Thanks, RAM. Since oil can't be shovelled, I don't see how it gets to the locomotive.
You have to shovel REAL fast.
Dick
Texas Chief
Bucket? :D
actually ,wood ,water ,fuel i.e oil,and coal tenders . just like using the sand for traction .they all work off valves and air pumps in the olden days . i would much rather operate a valve than run a shovel....... i never used a bucket unless it was the honey-bucket . i hated having to empty it ..... so is the encoder inside the tender... and are they easy to replace ...... i was looking at my 4-8-4 today . shows what i know ... but glad i finally got one to learn from and enjoy .... regards mark f
Hello,
I didn't buy a 4-8-4, but I did buy a 2-8-0 from "The Favorite Place" auction on ebay. I guess all I am allowed to say (message board rules) is that the sale went smooth, just as it should. I only say this in case some one is not too sure about the whole "online" thing.
Also, it seems like he has a lot of inventory. Once I get this Loco dialed in, I guess it will be time to find the next Loco.
I can hear my wife now.....
Steve,
I have four Spectrum 2-8-0. I anticipated the price increase last year, so stocked up at the old price.
Overall, the 2-8-0 is possibly the best steam loco Bachmann makes, and has enjoyed a long production run. (I think over 10 years).
If you can't decide what else to buy, just get another 2-8-0. :D
On the advice of YampaBob & Jim Banner, I added weight to the pony truck of my new 4-8-4, because its wheels would slip off the rails going through my 2 turnouts that are connected to each other. I didn't have sheet lead, so I got an old split shot from my tackle box, flattened it with pliers & trimmed it to fit the small flat space on top of the pony truck. Doubtful that so small a weight would help, I was pleased to see my 4-8-4 traverse those turnouts 6 times in succession, before I stopped the train. Previously, the locomotive would make no more than 1 or 2 laps before derailing.
Way to go. I picked up a bunch of used wheel weights from our tire supply store, cut them up in small pieces then flattened them on an anvil with a hammer into thin sheets.
Tackle shops have narrow lead strips that work great for light weighting.
Another option is to buy a small box of lead .38 bullets used for reloading, from a sporting goods store or gun shop. They can be placed in tight places, like in a tender, with double sided foam servo tape. I once bought a box of 100 at a yard sale for $1. 8)
i've also got to weight my pony trucks on my 4-8-4 , and shim the tender coupler.. bob is the 2-8-0 steam better running on the 22" and 18" radius. i did notice you said you had bought 4 of them . i saw the bachmann 2-8-0 steam dcc onboard listed in the trainworld ad in the model railroader mag .for around $90.00 . i may add a 1ft to the width and a 1ft to the length of the 4x8 table i have now and make it a 5x9 with larger radius curves . if the 2-8-0 would perform better on my layout ... i would be happy with that .to pull my passengers .they are 50' overlands. .... thanks mark f
All my curves are 18", and the Connies look and run great. All drivers allow lateral motion for curves. Drawbar pivot very close to last driver so the engineer doesn't get whiplash on curves.
My passenger cars are all Overtons and Overlands, freight cars 50' or less. I never got bit by the big loco bug, in fact I'm downsizing with a bunch of Roundhouse vintage 2-6-0 and 2-8-0 for my 32' custom excursion cars and 40' freighters.
On the other hand, I'm upsizing my diesels to AC4400 and SD70 Macs since those are the ones I see at the local yard, and they run great on 18". (140 mph). :D
I think WGL's 4-8-4 looks super, just wouldn't work on my layout.
By the way, WGL, I do snow removal for some of the neighbor's ranch complexes, when the winter is over I'm going on another binge. Got a bad case of DTs and need a fix. 8)